Gummed tape and tear strand dispensing apparatus



Nov. 17, 1964 A. J. EISENBERG 3,157,552

GUMMED TAPE AND TEAR STRAND DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed 001:. 27, 1959 5Sheets-Sheet l GUMMED TAPE AND TEAR STRAND DISPENSING APPARATUS 5Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 27, 1959 Iawenfo? 3 220 JII Z Nov. 17, 1964 A.J. EISENBERG GUMMED TAPE AND TEAR STRAND DISPENSING APPARATUS 5Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 27, 1959 la'wenioai- 012 2202110.li'zlsezzfierg, 6y u? s Nov. 17, 1964 A. J. EISENBERG GUMMED TAPE ANDTEAR STRAND DISPENSING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

Filed Oct. 27, 1959 l I l V 1 L,"

ENG

I flwzozd clEzlsenbwg,

1964 A. J. EISENBERG 3,

GUMMED TAPE AND TEAR STRAND DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 27, 1959 5Sheets-Sheet 5 15219833303 uia'wow JEzisenbezig, by W W United StatesPatent 3,157,552 GUMMEl) TAPE AND rsan STRAND nisrnNslNo arranarns AM-hold .l. Eisenherg, Nashua, N.H., assignor to Nashua Corporation,Nashua, N.H., a corporation of Delaware Filed 8st. 27, 1959, Ser. No.849,0(i 14 Qlaims. (ill. 156-436) This invention relates to tape andstrip dispensing machines such as employed for serving adhesivelyconditioned lengths of tape from a supply for the purposes of packaging,sealing, labelling and such. More particularly it concerns the generalclass of such machines for han dling moisture-activated or dry-gummedtapes.

An important object of the invention is novelly to equip machines of theclass described with new and improved means whereby a rip strand orso-called tear string separately supplied upon the machine may belaminated to and combined with the main strip or tape to be dispensed inthe course of the dispensing operation of the machine.

While the improvements herein concerned are adapted for use with variousmachines of the stated class they are particularly useful in conjunctionwith power-operated dispensers such as that of the Doyle, Eisenberg andMc- Dermott application Serial No. 845,126, filed October 8, 1959, nowPatent No. 3,076,586 of February 5, 1963. Hence for the purposes of thepresent disclosure the novel features are herein illustrated anddescribed as adapted to and installed upon the base machine of saidapplication Serial No. 845,126.

In the drawings illustrating by way of example one embodiment of theinvention:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the apparatus or machine as a whole;

PEG. 2 is a right side elevation of the same with a side cover plate ofthe control housing relating to the rip strand supply broken away;

PEG. 3 is a side elevation looking at the opposite or left side of themachine;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal vertical section through the base machinepositioned as in FIGS. 1 and 2;

PlG. 5 is an enlarged vertical section of certain feeding and severingmeans at the left central portion of FIG. 4, with parts omitted forclarity;

FIG. 6 is a detail horizontal sectional view as on the line 66 of FIG.5;

PEG. 7 is a related detail section as on the line 77 of FIG. 5, lookingdownwardly;

FIG. 8 is a transverse section at right angles to the tape path,substantially as on the line 8-8 of FIG. 5 and on the scale of thelatter, looking toward the front of the machine;

FIG. 9 is a vertical transverse section as on the line 9-9 of FlG. 4looking toward the rear of the machine and more particularly at the tapesevering means;

FIG. 10 is a vertical transverse section through the rip strand controlhousing as on the line lil1ti of FiG. 2 with the rip strand supply rollmainly in end elevation;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged detail section of certain severing means as uponthe line 1l11 of FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is a corresponding transverse section as on the line 12-12. ofFIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a section transverse to the tape path and in the generalplane of the axes of the feed rolls, as on the line 13, 13 of FIG. 5 andlooking toward the front of the machine;

FIG. 14 is a detail plan view of a central portion of a stationary bladeof the severing means; and

FIG. 15 is a partly diagrammatic plan view of the leading portion of thecomposite tape and rip strand.

As stated, the base machine of the present embodiment is that of theidentified application owned by the assignee 3 3,157,552 Patented Nov.17, 1964 of the present application. Such machine is hereinsufiicien-tly illustrated and described for an understanding of thepresent invention. Unless otherwise herein stated parts includingcontrols and circuits may be understood as being the same as in saidprior application.

Referring first generally to FiGS. 1 to 4, the base machine comprises amain frame or housing 1 with side members 2 providing between them atthe rear portion of the machine a holder or well 3 for the roll supply Rof the dry-gummed tape T of any preferred composition and weight asappropriate for the given usage. Noting particularly FIG. 4, the tape Tfrom the supply roll R is advanced along a path extending forwardlybetween the side frames to a delivery station S at the fore end of themachine, at the left on FIGS. 1, 2 and 4; at the right on FIG. 3.Advance of the tape is accomplished by a pair of opposed separablerotary members including a driven lower feed roll 6 and an upper feed orpinch roll 7 later referred to in further detail. The herein lower feedroll 6 is driven by an electric motor M, FIGS. 1 and 3, and throughreduction gearing in the adjacently located gear housing 8 as in saidapplication and in the commonly owned Patent No. 2,776,833 of January 8,1957, reference to which may also be made for further illustration anddescription of the main feeding, moistening and sever ing devices of thebase macmne.

As seen in FIG. 8 the driven lower feed roll 6 is fixed on a shaft 6ajournailed in a lateral boss on the machine frame, the shaft extendinginto the gear housing 8 and there drivingly connected as at 612 with thementioned motor-driven train of gearing. The upper or pinch roll 7 ofthe roll pair which also serves as a tape lengthmeasuring element ismounted on a transverse shaft journalled in a sleeve 7a on one arm 71)of a bellcrank rockably mounted on a transverse shaft 11 supported onand between the machine side frames 2. The other arm of the bellcrank,of which the upper portion only is seen in FIG. 8, is connected to anactuator for movement normally to open and at each operating cycle toclose the pinch roll 7 into tape feeding relation with the driven roll6. As in said mentioned application and said Patent 2,776,- 833 suchactuator comprises a spring-loaded reciprocable rod 16 connected at oneend to a solenoid indicated generally at 15, FIGS. 1 and 2, and at theopposite forward end operatively engaged with said depending arm 7a ofthe pinch roll bellcrank. Such actuator 16 also is con nected with onearm of a second bellcrank, the other arm of which is operativelyconnected to a generally vertical link 18, FIGS. 4 and 9, by which themovable blade 25? of the severing means is elevated or depressed in tapesevering coaction with the fixed blade 30.

Again noting FIG. 4 the path of the main tape T from the supply roll Rin the housing well 3 extends forwardly between the feed and pinch rolls6, 7- and along between lower and upper guides 14, 14' past the severingblades 2t), 3t) and beneath an adjustably weighted platen 19 overlyingbrush moistener means B projecting from a liquid reservoir 12 removablyset on cross supports on and between the front portions of the machineside frames 2. As shown the level of the liquid in the reservoir ismaintained in known manner from a replenishable supply in an automaticfeeding container or flask 13 demountably held herein at the left sideof the machine, FIGS. 1 and 3. The reservoir may be equipped with aheater 19$ for the tape-moistening liquid, the electrical connectionsfor which heater are seen in FIG. 3.

In connection with the foregoing it is noted that the base machine,similarly as in said application Serial No. 845,126 is equipped withdetachable plug-in type connections with the power supply and for theseveral operating and control circuits of the machine. Such provisionsinclude an outlet block 1% at the left lower central portion of themachine frame, see FIG. 3, including a socket portion marked Heater Sidefor plug-in reception of the mentioned heater or other accessor and asocket portion hereinmarked Switch Side for plug-in connection of thecircuit-forming leads of one or another operatorcontrolledcycle-starting switch such as the extended-area arcuate manual switchbar 179 similar to that of said prior application.

Such circuit-forming connections also include a plugin receptacle 2% forthe circuit connections of the cycleterminating trip switch (not shown)whereby the tape feed is halted and the tape severed upon delivery of apreselected measured length of the tape, as in the mentionedapplication. The manual grip or knob 163 of the length selector arm 164are seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the selector mechanism in the illustratedexample being of a com struction and arrangement including a rotarynumbered drum 55 whereby selected length values for the tape are viewedand selectively set at a window 50 on the arcuate flange of the controlhousing side cover plate within which the length-numbered drum 55 isoutboard mounted for proportioned and calibrated drive from the upperfeed roll 7.

The foregoing description in connection with the drawings and withreference to the earlier disclosures herein identified sufiicipntlyexplains the general construction and arrangement of the basetape-dispensing machine for an understanding of the combination andco-operative relation therewith of the tear strand incorporating meansof the present invention. While such means is useful with otherconstructions of gummed tape dispensing machines it is hereinparticularly adapted for installation as auxiliary equipment for thedescribed multi-use or universal machine having plug-in type electricalconnections for different operating controls and accessory items, sothat the tear string supplying mechanism may readily be removed when notdesired for use. The construction and arrangement also is such that withthe tear-string supplying devices installed the machine will accept anddispense tapes not having a tear-string, or tapes having tear-stripspreapplied, as well as being able to laminate a tear-string to whatevertape is desired to be dispensed as use requirements dictate.

The general purposes and functions of a pull-strand or tear-string inassisting removal or ripping of adhesively applied tape in openingpackages, cartons and the like to which it has been applied are wellknown. By grasping such tear-strand at an end portion of the appliedtape and pulling back against the overlying tape the latter may beripped or pulled free to afford access to the package. Such stranditself, one example of which is herein designated generally by thereference character P, may be variously formed of any suitable materialto provide a relatively narrow continuous member of substantially equalflexibility with the main tape and of a strength suitable for thestatedpurposes, whether formed as a string or cord or as a narrow tapeindividually fabricated or slit to width from wider webi In general itis desirable that consistent with the strength requirements such strandbe fiat or flattened and of limited thickness to'alford little or nohindrance to normal adhesive use of the tape with which it is to beemployed. The tear-strand P as herein illustrated may be regarded astypical for the purpose. One commercially available example of such tearstrand with which the equipment of theillustrated embodiment has beensatisfactorily employed is that composed of a multiplicity oflongitudinal threads or filaments adhesively bonded together or unitedby a carrier vehicle to form a A2 inch unbleached tape identified as No.121 as sup plied under the trade name Print-Ad-String.. The element P asherein represented may be assumed to be such narrow tape or compositestrand.

In FIGS. 1 to 3 and a supply package of the tear strand is shown in theform of aroll or spool thereof PR.v Asthus'supplied the tear-strand P iswound upon a spoolhaving end heads 79, 76 including supporting ljournalplates 71 axially apertured in line for reception of a spindle 85 laterreferred to. The spool head bearer plated 71 have one or more radiallyofiset locking apertures 72 whereby the spool may be locked on and toturn as a unit with the spindle 85.

This tear-strand supporting spindle 85 is rotatably mounted at one endon a. longitudinal rearward extension of one of the side frames 2,herein that at the right, of the base machine 1; see FIGS. 1, 2 and 10.Such extension comprises a generally rectangular housing compartment 8%)with an inner longitudinal side wall 81, a

top wall 82, end walls 83,. 83' and a removable outer side wall or coverplate 84. This housing as a unit is demountably secured at its front endto the adjacent machine side frame 2 as by bolts 81a extending throughthe inner side wall 81 and into fixed part of the machine. Notingparticularly FIG. 10, laterally aligned apertures on the inner and outerside walls 81 and 84 have disposed thereon anti-friction bearing rings86, 37 in which the adjacent end of the spindle 85 is rotatably receivedand operatively positioned in laterally extending horizontal positionfor holding the tear-strand supply roll PR for rotation with its axisparallel to that of the supply roll R of the main tape T and. with theroll supplies in tandem relation and generally in line with eachotherlengthwise of the machine.

From the roll supply package PR on the described auxiliary unit thetear-strand 1 travels forwardly into the base machine 1 at the rear andlower portion of the tape well 3 as through the space 319, FIG. 4,between the lower rear end of the rear top cover 3a and the arcuateplate 3b providing a bottom closure for said tape well 3. Alternativelythe strand P may enter the well through a special port for it in saidbottom plate 3b. As best seen in FIG. 4, this tear-strand P after.

entering the well 3 passes forwardly belowthe position of the main taperoll R, being guided beneath transverse rollers 311, 312, 313 on whichthe main tape roll R is rotatably positioned in the well, partly about afurther guide roller 314 and in front of another transverse guide memberand cross-support 315 to and through a special moistening device 124 tobe described and into paralleling position along and at the underface ofthe tape T to Which the strand P is to be laminated at the feed rolls 6,7 by which the strand P is advanced from the supply thereof in synchronywith the main tape .T.

For proper tensioning of the tear-strand P and to avoid overrun, controlmeans therefor is provided in operative association with the spindle 35,within the auxiliary housing compartment 89. Noting again FIGS. 2, 3 andparticularly FIG. 10, the spindle has fixed on it as by a set screwa'collar 88, inwardly beyond the inner compartment wall 81, limitingendwise movement of the spindle toward said wall and adapted to abut theadjacent.

the tear-strand spool heads 70, 7%} or the journal plates 7 71 thereof.The spindle 85, collar 88 and thev strand spool accordingly are adjustedto rotate as a unit.

Within the auxiliary compartment 3% the spindle carries adrum or sheave$0 having a hub 91 with a set screw for affixing the sheave on and toturn with the spindle unit. Aligning bearing for the adjacent outer endof the spindle is provided by the mentioned anti-friction orball-bearing ring 87 on the cover plate 84. The sheave normally holdsthe spindle against-axial shifting in the direction awayfromthecompartment wall 81', toward the right on FIG. 10. a

The mentioned tensioning torque and anti-overrun control for the spindleand strand package thereon is afforded through the medium of said drum9% As seen in FIG;

10- it is formcd'with a peripheral channel, shown as of 5. V-formsimilarly as on pulleys for V-belts. As seen in FIG. 2 and also FIG. 10there is mounted in the compartment a spool-loading or tensioner arm 92pivoted as at 93. The arm 92 has at the rear end a thin upstanding shoe94 adapted to ride on the bottom wall of the groove of the drum orsheave 90. The shoe 94 is of selected fibrous or other material to bearwith limited frictional gripping against the sheave and so as to provideappropriate torque-resistance to turning of the spindie in the strandfeeding direction to prevent the spool thereof from paying off thestrand P too freely in the course of a feeding cycle. This tensioning orretardhig of the spool is ordered as appropriate by the loading spring95 fixed at one end intermediately on the tensioner arm 92 and at theother end to a stud 96 on the compartment wall 81. Said tensioner arm 92is actively engaged with the drum 90 and spindle 35 at all times.

For positively halting the turning of the spooled strand package PR atthe end of a feeding cycle additional on-and-ofi brake means isprovided, to be released for and during feed of the strand P and to besharply reapplied for quick stopping of the strand package when the feedis terminated.

As herein illustrated such means comprises a brake lever 97 rockablymounted intermediate its ends on the stud 96 previously mentioned. Atthe rear end over the drum 9% this brake lever 97 carries a brake shoe93 of a semi-rigid or other gripping composition and shaped with a downtaper for gripping against the walls of the V-groove of the shivesimilarly as with V -belts. A spring 99 of selected weight for positivebrake application urges the brake lever 97 and shoe 98 into on orapplied position, being connected at the upper end to the rear end ofthe lever and being anchored at the lower end as at 99' to a lug on ahousing wall.

For releasing the spool-halting brake means 97, 98 at the start of eachfeed cycle and to hold it in off position during such cycle there isprovided in the compartment 89 electro-magnetic means shown as asolenoid Sill having an armature 302 with a link 3&3 connecting it tothe fore end of the brake lever 7. This solenoid is adapted and arrangedfor electrical connection into the power supply and control circuits ofthe machine through a circuit conductor cord 304 equipped for detachableplug-in connection at the circuitjunction box 3%, see FIG. 1, of thebase machine similarly as described for certain relay means of the basemachine in the mentioned application Serial No. 845,126. When theelectrically connected brake-release solenoid 301 is subject to thepower and control circuits so that when the operator depresses the cyclestarting switch bar 170, FIGS. 1 and 2, to start a feed cycle byactuating the motor M and the solenoid 15 for the actuator 16 whichcauses the feed rolls 6, 7 to close into feeding relation to the tape Tand the tearstrand P, then simultaneously the strand brake solenoid 391is activated. It accordingly pulls down the front end of the brake lever97 and lifts the brake shoe 98 out of braking engagement with the shive90 of the strandpackage-holding spindle 85. Conversely, at the end of afeed cycle, when the tape length selectively set by the selector arm163, 164 has been fed out and the circuit tripped by the automaticcut-oh switch associated with the length-measuring means, then at thesame time the brake solenoid 3% is de-energized and the brake means 97,98 is immediately applied by its spring 99 quickly to stop turning ofthe spool package. Thus even transverse alignment for the leading endsof the tape T and tearstrand P is continuously maintained.

Mention has above been made of means for adhesively conditioning ormoistening the tea -strand particularly at the upper face for securelamination thereof to the under face of the tape T at the same time ifdesired rendering adhesive the under face of the strand for adherencethereof to the package or article to which the laminar tearstrand andtape unit is to be applied.

For this purpose there is herewith provided on the machine at a locationalong the strand path but behind the rotary feed means 6, '7 thementioned means for rendering the tear strand P adhesive while en routeto the feed means. In the illustrated example such tear-strand moistenerprovisions comprise a demountable sub-assembly 129 including a liquidreceptacle or auxiliary reservoir 1T1 herein at the left side of themachine, FIGS. 1 and 3, behind the main moistener reservoir 12 andliquid supply flask l3 and forward of the motor M. In this receptacle121, having a removable cover 122, is placed one end portion of anelongate absorbent wick 123 of felted fibrous or like material. The wickprojects through a wall opening of the reservoir and in through a port124 on the adjacent side frame 2 of the machine to a position adjacentlybelow the rear part of the lower tape guide 14 and behind the feedrolls; see FIGS. 4 to 7.

At the stated location the front upper end of the tape well floor plate31; is formed centrally thereof with a notch 3x at and horizontallyacross which is affixed as by screws or rivets a channeled wick holderor clip 125, seen in vertical section in PEG. 5 and in top elevation inthe horizontal sectional detail view, FIG. 6, looking down on the line 5of FIG. 5. The wick 123 entering the machine housing at the port 124,FIG. 3, extends across horizontally to the central longitudinal verticalzone of the machine passing along the front face of the tape well bottomplate 31) to the notch 3x thereof through which it is deflectedrearwardly, FIG. 6, into the channeled portion of the holder clip 125,see also FIG. 5. Thus a portion of the wick 123 is presented in avertical plane in the path of the tear-strand P as it travels upwardfrom within the well 3, so that the wick has moisture-applying relationto the tear-strand P for wetting the latter at least at that face whichis to come into direct laminating engagement with the gummed underfaceof the tape T. Said laminating face of the strand P, sometimes alsoother surface thereof, may itself present a normally drymoisture-activatable adhesive such as that of the gumrned face of thetape T so as to be activatable to adhesiveness by the applied moisturefrom the auxiliary wick 123, for extra adhesive bonding with the gummedtape T which in turn is adhesively activated at the strand-receivingzone through transfer of some of the moisture from the strand P thereto;or said laminating face of the strand P if without a moisture-sensitiveadhesive is such as to serve as a wettable receiver and carrier ofmoisture from said wick 123 for activating transfer thereof to thegummed face of the tape T and attendant laminating adherence of thestrand P thereto. In the moistening travel of the generally thintear-strand P upwardly across the wick 123 the edges as well as the then(FIG. 5) rear face thereof are usually wetted. Also the then front face,that which will remain exposed at the underface of the tape T fol lowingsubsequent laminating travel through the feed rolls 6, 7 may bemoistened by the wick moistener 123, the inner end of the latter ifdesired being turned back upon itself to form a loop of wicking throughwhich the strand passes and receives all-over moistening treatment. Formost uses application of moisture by the auxiliary moistener 123 only atthe laminating face of the strand P is sufiicient and may be preferredby the user.

Immediately above the wick moistener 123 the moistly conditioned oradhesively activated tear-straud P, as the case may he, passes forwardlyover the down deflected transverse lip 24a of the under guide plate 14at which the tape T and the tear-strand P come together and travel inclose parallelism in fiatwise juxtaposed relation for laminating themsecurely together at the feed rolls 6, 7. For directing the tear-strandP into accurately longitudinally centered, or other desired positioningwidthwise of tape T the strand P is lead through an aligning orcentering guide E34 FlGS. 4,5 and particularly FIG. 7, shown as a loopmember wi h legs spaced by approximately the width of the strand? so asto straddle the path of the rear latter. This guide is operativelylocated by a transverse rod 131 extending between the machine sideframes and supporting the rear end of the lower tape guide plate 14. Thelatter is formed with a slot for the suide 131 at or near the juncturewith the downwardly deflected guide lip 14a. Moisture protection'for thelatter and the guide plate 14 along the path of the strand P and a goodtraction surface thereat may be provided by a coating or applied layer132, FIG. 7, of appropriate plastic, rubberous or friction tape or thelike. i

For equal synchronous feed of thepull strand P along with the tape T andfor even and secure lamination of the two of the feed rolls 6, '7arespecially formed peripherally and novelly cooperate in the feed action.As best seen in FIGS. 8 and 13, the lower and driven feed roll 6, havinga tubular hub 6h with set screw by which it is interchangeably mountedon the roll shaft 651. The special roll 6 as shown installed is formedwith a central peripheral Zone 51 of larger diameter presenting anannular raised band of a radial depth approximately equal to thethickness of the pull strand P to be laminated to the adhesive face ofthe ta e T. This raised zone 61 has linurling 62 upon the peripheralface thereof, as does also the two portions of lesser diameter of theroll, as indicated at 63, 64.

For cooperation with the described lower roll 6 the upper roll 7 has theperiphery formed with an annular central recess 75 into which is setsubstantially flush with the circumferential surface of this roll 7 atire 76 of somewhat yielding resilient or semi-rigid rubberous or othercomposition of a low hardness of about the order of St Durometer. Thehigher band 61 of the lower roll 6 and the tire 75 of the upper or pinchroll 7, which is positively closed into pressing feed-efiecting relationwith the lower roll 7 by the actuator of the solenoid at the start of afeed cycle, both parallel the path of the pull strand P and hence areeffective at the opposite faces of the strand to force it flatwise intofirm laminating application to the tape T. In this action the strand Pand the opposed central longitudinal zone of the tape T are radiallyolfset by the high Zone 61 of the roll 6 and cause the tire 76 of theupper roll 7 to be correspondingly compressed substantially asillustrated in FIG. 13. This action not only insures a firm grip of therolls upon both the tape T and the strand P for equal feeding, but alsocauses said engagement to take place with the strand P moving in thesame plane as the body of the tape T at the portions to both sides ofthe strand P. Thus at the region of feeding engagement of the rolls uponthe composite laminar strip consisting of the tape and the strand, bothelements T and P thereof are engaged at equal radial distances from theaxes of the rolls and hence receive equal imparted linear travel inunison. Therefore both the tap T and the strand P are drawn off fromtheir respective supplies at the same rate and are laminated 1 togetherwith minimal or zero shearing action between them as would be caused byuneven feed and interference with proper inter-bonding. Thus thesynchronously and equally traveling tape T and strand P are laidtogether comprising a finger 14% supported for pivoting on a horizontalaxis as at 14% and lightly spring loaded'in the counter-clockwisedirection, FlGS. 4 and 5. in the direc- ,tion of the tape feed thefingerreadily yields for tape travel below it, but under attempted oppositeretraction of the'tape the finger at the accentric lower end pinches onto and holds the tape.

t The composite strip or web comprising the tape T with thepull strand Plaminated upon its gum-coated under face is advanced by and between thefeed rolls 6, '7 forwardly along and between the guides 14-, lid to andacross the main severing means comprising the vertically mov-' ableblade 21 and the fixed blade 34 earlier mentioned, BT68. 4, 5, 9 and 11,and beyond'these is advanced across the brush moistener means B inmoistening relation thereto under the controlled downward pressure ofthe adjustably weighted platen 19, and issues at the delivery station Sin adhesively condition for application, in generally similar manner asin the mentioned application.

To facilitate the use of the tape and laminated tear-; strand P meansmay be provided for forming at the leading marginal portion of thedelivered tape lengths an easily freeable grasping tab piece to beseized for ripping out through the applied tape T. As illustrated inFIG. 15 such tab PT is defined between short generafly longitudinalpunches or lines of weakening or separation within the severed end ofthe tape T, as at small-case letters 1,1. The transverse cut-oil meansfor the tape comprises the mentioned movable knife blade 2% winch may beas in identified application, of the guillotine type having the cuttingedge in the form of an inverted shallow V, straddling the tape path,FIG. 9. In the quick down stroke of this knife effected in relation tothe completion of the tape feed and on a part of each operating cycle,

the shearing of the tape progresses inwardly from both sides toward thecenter of the tape by reason of the if-form of the knife, with thecentral zone accordingly cut last. The mounting and operatingconnections for this guillotine knife 29 include the vertical linkil connected for down movement by the actuator 16 upon deenergizing of thesolenoid 15 at the end of the operat ing cycle. The two-part knife 21 isremovably attached to a transverse carrier bar 21 on a foot plate 22 ofa guide post lie, the bar 21 being pivotally hung at the ends ondepending links 21a of the knife support yoke 21b rockable on across-shaft 210 on the machine frame similarly as in said priorapplication, said yoke in turn .operatively connected to said verticalactuator link 18. The guillotine knife 29 biased by a spring 20s shearsthe tape T and tear-strand P transversely against the fore edge of thefixed blade 30.

The mentioned tab-forming punch lines I, I may be variously formed. Forthe purpose there is shown in FlGS. 9, 11 and 14 auxiliary piercingmeans structurally separate from the guillotine blade 21 and detachablymountedion the carrier bar 21. The latter has a'notoh at its under faceto receive an inverted U-shapeddoublepointed punph or punch-cuttingelement 23 having legs 23a, 23a spaced crosswise of the tape path andformed at the lower rear corner portions with punch points 24,

This punch unit is set up into the notch of the carrier bar 21 and theredernountably held as by a screw 23b, PEG. 12, extending through the baseof the U. From the piercing points the legs 23a, 23a incline upwardlyand forwardly as at 25 to a level above the adjacent edge of theguillotine knife 20, as indicated at 26 on FIGS.'

11 and 12, and may be bevelled for cut-punching'coaction with the tape Tupon opposite sides of the tear-strand P. F or cooperation with thepunch legs 23a the stationary blade 39 of the machine is formed with alike spaced pair of narrow vertical openings or recesses 31, 31 of majorarea at the inner or rear ends at 32, 32. FIG.

14, to receive the punch'points 24, 24 and herein tapering forwardlytoward or to the front edge of. said fixed blade 3%. r

From the foregoing in connection particularly with PlGS, 9, l1, 12, 14and 15 it is seen that while the punch points 24 of the auxiliary unitmay pierce the tape T only aftercross severance thereof by theguillotine blade 21 has begun and moved in from the tape edges, the.subsequent longitudirial punch-cutting action of the punch legs 23a, 23aprogresses from the points 2- 24 forwardly and in the direction of thetape feed and either stops short of or meets'the front edge of the tapeafterthe last-severed central zone of the tape has itself beentransversey out, leaving if desired, a thin and easily broken link or score lineof. the tape across the front edge 'of the tape at the punch lines I, 1,FIG. 15, serving in use to retain the tab fiatwise against unintendedpremature displacement of the tab PT and the strand P joined with it. Itwill be understood that the described grasping piece PT is left formedwith the forward cross severed edge of the leading end of the tape Tthat is left in the machine following each operating cycle, so as to beavailable at the fore end of the next tape length to be fed, laminatedand delivered in adhesive condition for application in use.

It will be undestood that the tear-strand P as described may beimpregnated with or have at least at the laminating face thereof acoating of a normally dry gum or the like suited for adhesiveconditioning by moistening thereof by the auxiliary moistener wick 123.In other instances the strand P itself may be non-gummed orsubstantially so and formed to present a moisture-receiving and carryingsurface structure or texture adapting it to pick up and carry with itmoisture from the wick which on laminating contact of the strand withthe opposed moisturesensitizable face of the main tape T renders thelatter sumciently adhesive dong the medial zone at which the strand Pjoins with it to efiect adhesive bonding and lamination of the strand tothe tape as the two progress synchronously through between the describedfeed rolls such as 6 and 7.

My invention is not limited to the particular embodiments thereofillustrated and described herein, and I set forth its scope in myfollowing claims.

I claim:

1. in a gummed tape dispensing machine having a housing frame with taperoll rotatably supporting mean opposed rolls for feeding the tape,moistening means for the gummed face of the tape, transverse severingmeans for the tape between the feeding and the moistening means, andoperating and control provisions for all said means for effectingsuccessive cycles of tape feed, moistening and severance; in combinationtherewith a rearward extension of the machine frame, a spindle rotatablymounted on the extension for holding a spooled supply of a tear-strandin tandem relation to the tape roll, guide means for such stranddirecting it into the tape path rearwardly of the feed rolls forparallel travel with the tape medially of the adhesively conditionabletape face, auxiliary moistener means also rearwardly of the feed rollsfor applying moisture to the strand before face-contacting entry thereofinto the tape path en route to the feed rolls, and opposedstrand-thickness compensating medial peripheral formations on the feedrolls at the path of the strand for feeding the tape and the strandsynchronously at the same linear rate for adhesively lminating themoistened strand to the adjoined face of the tape, said medialperipheral formations comprising a raised zone on one feed roll and onaligned compressibly yielding zone on the other feed roll.

2. In a tape dispensing machine according to claim 1 the combinationincluding double-pointed punch means straddling the strand path adjacentthe tape severing means and synchronized therewith for punch-forming agrasping piece in the leading margin of the tape remaining on themachine after each operating cycle. a

3. A gummed tape dispensing machine according to claim 1 including adrum fixed on the strand holder spindle, torque resisting meansengageable with the drum for tensioning the strand in feeding thereof,brake means cooperable with the drum for stopping turning of the spindleand strand supply thereon against overrun of the strand at the end of atape and strand feeding cycle, spring means for normally a plying thebrake means, and electro-magnetic means for releasing the brake means atthe start of and during each feeding cycle, the operating and controlprovisions for the feed rolls and the severing means being electricaland the machine housing frame being equipped with a power-suppliedelectrical circuit junction box with plug-in type receptacle, and theelectromagnetic means for operating the brake means including anelectrical conductor cord connected thereto at one end and havingplug-in connection at the other end for attachment at said receptacle.

4. In a tape machine for dispensing lengths of gummed tape having atear-strand adhesively applied lengthwise along and centrally of thegummed face and in which machine said tape is to be advanced along alongitudinal path to and past a moistener for the gummed face thereof, alongitudinal housing frame mounting guide means defining said path forsaid tape, said frame also rotatably mounting at an intermediatelocation in said path an opposed pair of feed rolls for advancing saidtape between them and along said path, said feed rolls having in linewith the tear-strand of the tape as advanced along said path medialperipheral formations for strand-thickness compensation in the feedingof the tape between them, said peripheral formations comprising a medialraised zone on one feed roll and an aligned compressibly yieldable zoneon the other feed roll of said pair.

5. For installation on a gummed tape dispensing machine having a housingframe with means at a rear portion thereof for rotatably supporting atape supply roll, opposed rolls for feeding the tape between them,moistening means for the gummed face of the tape, transverse serveringmeans for the tape between the feed rolls and the moistening means, andelectrical operating means with power-supplying and control circuitryfor said feed rolls and severing means for effecting successive cyclesof feed, moistening and severance of lengths of the tape; a tear-strandsupplying assembly comprising a generally rectangular housingcompartment connectible at the rear of the machine frame in laterallyoffset relation to the longitudinal center line of the tape paththereon, said compartment having laterally spaced side walls, a strandpackage holding spindle having one end journalled in aligned bearingapertures on the compartment side walls, the body of the spindleprojecting from the compartment and horizontally across the machine, asheave-like brake drum fixed on the spindle within the compartment, arockable brake lever and shoe thereon for braking engagement with thespindle drum, spring means normally urging the brake lever into brakingrelation with the drum, a solenoid and armature operatively connected torock the brake lever for relasing the shoe from the drum and circuitleads for the solenoid for connection thereof into the power-supplyingand control circuitry of the machine.

6. The tear-strand supplying assembly according to claim 5 including atensioner shoe in the compartment and engageable with the brake drum, apivoted arm carrying the shoe and spring means effecting yieldingengagement of the shoe and drum for tensioning the strand during pay-offfrom the spindle-carried package thereof.

7. For installation a gummed tape dispensing machine having a housingframe with means at a rear portion thereof for rotatably supporting atape supply roll, opposed feed rolls forward of the tape roll supportingmeans and adapted to advance the tape between them, moistening means forthe gummed face of the tape comprising a main liquid reservoir with aprojecting brush moistener adjacent the front of the frame, transversesevering means for the tape between the feeding and the moisteningmeans, and operating control provisions for said feed rolls and severingmeans for effecting successive cycles of tape feed, moistening andseverance; a supplemental liquid reservoir mountable externally on themachine frame intermediate the ends thereof, an elongate wick having oneend received in said reservoir, the wick extending from the reservoirand laterally into the machine housing to a position below the tape pathand rearwardly of the tape feed rolls, holder means for the extendedportion of the wick in the machine housing, said wick holder meansadapted for mounting on a fixed transverse member on the housing framerearwardly of the feed rolls, and guide means on a cross-member of theframe for directing a longitudinal tear-strand from a rearwardly locatedsupply thereof across and with at least the upper face of suchtear-strand in moisture-receiving relation to the wick and thenceforwardly to and through the feed rolls with the tear-strand over thedriven feed roll and between it and the tape and with said moistenedupper face of the tear-strand against the gummed down-directed face ofthe tape for laminar adhesive bonding of the strand to the tape duringsaid passage thereof from the wick to and through between said feedrolls of the tape dispensing machine.

8. In combination, in a gummed tape dispensing machine having a housingframe with tape roll support means, opposed rolls for feeding the tape,moistening means for the gummed face of the tape, transverse severingmeans for the tape between the feeding and the moistening means, andoperating and control provisions for said means for etfecting successivecycles of tape feed, moistening and severance, said sevening meanscomprising a guillotine blade downwardly movable across the tape path toshear the tape against a fixed blade, the movable blade being of shallowinverted V-forrn and the ma.- chine having a movable blade carrierincluding a cross bar to which the movable blade is secured and havingoperating means for the carrier to effect down cutting action of suchmovable blade; a punch-cutting device for forming a grasping piece atthe forward margin of the tape remaining in the machine upon severanceof a delivered tape length therefrom, said device comprising an invertedU-shaped punch element having sharp pierce-punching points at the lowerrear corner portions of the U-legs and having the bottom edges of thelegs inclining forwardly and upwardly, and means for attaching saiddevice to said cross bar of the blade'carrier with the punch pointspositioned toward the rear of the machine and located and laterallyspaced to straddle a central longitudinal zone of tape fed forwardlybelow it, and said fixed blade having in vertical line with the U-legsof said punch device a like plurality of longitudinal slots of largerhorizontal area at the rear thereof adapting them to receive thedownrojecting points of said legs and extending forwardly for followingreception of at least a portion of the forwardly and upwardly inclinedbottom edges of said legs thereby to cut-form said tape-grapsing piceprogressively forwardly in the direction of the tape feed.

9. In combination, in a gummed tape dispensing machine in accordancewith claim 8 wherein the U-legs are spaced transversely of the tape pathto an extent adapting them to straddle the path of a tear-strandcentrally longitudinally laminated to the main tape so as to piercepunchthe tape in said forwardly progressive manner at the oppositelongitudinal sides of the tear-strand for inclusion of the latter withthe tape and stran -grasping piece so formed.

10. A gummed tape dispensing machine according to claim 1 wherein therearward extension of the'machine frame comprises a generallyrectangular compartment offset from the longitudinal center line of themachine and having laterally spaced side walls, the strand supplyholding spindle having one end journalled in aligned bearing apertureson said compartment side walls, the body of the spindle projecting fromthe compartment and horizontally across the machine, a sheave-like brakedrum fixed on the spindle within the compartment, a rockable bralrelever and shoe thereon for braking engagement with the spindle drum,spring means normally urging the brake lever into braking relation withthe drum, and means to rock the brake lever for releasing the shoe fromthe drum during inverted V-form guillotine blade downwardly movableacross the tape path and a fixed blade coacting with the,

movable blade to shear the tape, a carrier on the machine for themovable blade including a cross bar to which,

said blade is secured and carrier operating means to effect cuttingaction of such blade, punch-cutting means for forming at the forwardmargin of the tape remaining in the machine a grasping-piece includingthe then forward portion of the tear-strand, said means comprising aninverted U-shaped punch element having sharp pierce punching points atthe lower rear corner portions of the U legs thereof and with the bottomedges of said legs inclining forwardly and upwardly, said means attachedto said cross bar of the movable blade carrier in position to straddlethe longitudinal zone of the tape at which the tear-strand is located,and said fixed blade having in vertical line with the U-legs of saidpunch device a like plurality of longitudinal slots of larger horizontalarea at the rear thereof adapting them to receive the downprojectingpoints of said legs and extending forwardly for following reception ofat least a portion of the forwardly and upwardly inclined bottom edgesof said legs thereby to form said tape-grasping piece progressivelyforwardly in the direction of the tape feed.

12. In a tape machine for dispensing lengths of gummed paper tape havingapplied lengthwise along the gummed face a tear-strand and in whichmachine the tape is fed and delivered along a substantially horizon-,

tal path across a moistener with the gummed face down; a cut-off blademovable in a vertical plane across the tape path and having a cuttingedge for severing alfed,

movement therewith, said tab-forming means compris ing punch-cuttinglegs spaced to straddle the tear-strand and operative in vertical planessubstantially normal to the plane of the cut-off blade to form slits inthe tape adjacent and paralleling the tear-strand and lengthwise of thetape, each leg having a punch-cutting end adjacent t e tape path with aninitial tape-engaging point at a rear corner of the leg and a cuttingportion extending forwardly from said point and incl ned away from thetape path for progressive longitudinal forward cutting of the tape, andthe forward end of said cutting portion being vertically spaced relativeto the adjacent portion of the cutting edge of the cut-off blade in thedirection away from the tape path so that the cross severance of thetape and tear-strand is accomplished before completion of the forwardcutting of the slits.

13. In a tape dispensing machine according to claim 12 the constructionwherein said slit-forming legs are spaced rearwardly of the crosscut-off blade sufiiciently'to leave a readily breakable unslitted linkof the tape across the front edge thereof at the slit location. i I

14. In a tap dispensing machine according to claim 12 the constructionwherein the cutting edge of the cut-off blade is in the form of ashallow V with the apex thereof away from the tape path, and thetab-forming means is located at the region of said V apex.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNiTED STATES PATENTS 71,411,774 Engel Apr. 4, 1922 1,590,371 Haren June 29, 1926 1,683,934Timmons Sept. 11, 1928 1,755,926 Leguillon et al. Apr. 22,1930 2,130,7751 Neumair ,Sept. 20, 1938 2,268,474 Chalmers Dec. 30, 1941 2,350,244Malhiot May 30,1944 2,360,845 Bronander Oct. 24, 1944 2,638,145 Havemannet a1 May 12, 1953 2,683,401 Smith July 13,1954 2,920,681 Humphner Ian.12, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 7 529,002 Canada Aug. 14, 1956 554,579 r GreatBritain July 9, 1943

1. IN A GUMMED TAPE DISPENSING MACHINE HAVING A HOUSING FRAME WITH TAPEROLL ROTATABLY SUPPORTING MEANS, OPPOSED ROLLS FOR FEEDING THE TAPE,MOISTENING MEANS FOR THE GUMMED FACE OF THE TAPE, TRANSVERSE SEVERINGMEANS FOR THE TAPE BETWEEN THE FEEDING AND THE MOISTENING MEANS, ANDOPERATING AND CONTROL PROVISIONS FOR ALL SAID MEANS FOR EFFECTINGSUCCESSIVE CYCLES OF TAPE FEED, MOISTENING AND SEVERANCE; IN COMBINATIONTHEREWITH A REARWARD EXTENSION OF THE MACHINE FRAME, A SPINDLE ROTATABLYMOUNTED ON THE EXTENSION FOR HOLDING A SPOOLED SUPPLY OF A TEAR-STRANDIN TANDEM RELATION TO THE TAPE ROLL, GUIDE MEANS FOR SUCH STRANDDIRECTING IT INTO THE TAPE PATH REARWARDLY OF THE FEED ROLLS FORPARALLEL TRAVEL WITH THE TAPE MEDIALLY OF THE ADHESIVELY CONDITIONABLETAPE FACE, AUXILIARY MOISTENER MEANS ALSO REARWARDLY OF THE FEED